After Manchester United announced midfield veteran Casemiro will be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season, their next midfield move has seemingly been revealed
Casemiro during a Manchester United game
Casemiro will depart Manchester United at the end of the season when his contract expires(Image: 2026 Copa)
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Manchester United are ready to start discussing a new contract for midfield youngster Kobbie Mainoo.
The Reds have already announced Casemiro will be departing the club at the end of the season, when his contract expires. When the Brazilian departs, more than £15million will be freed up in the club's salary budget.
It now appears some of the extra cash may be put towards a new deal for Mainoo, who is back in the fold after being frozen out by Ruben Amorim. The news comes barely a week after his starring display in the 2-0 victory over Manchester City.
Sky Sports understand the club are ready to tie Mainoo down to what's been described as a "vastly improved deal." His salary could be dragged up toward the higher earners at the club.
This would have been unthinkable toward the end of 2025, when Mainoo had not started a single Premier League match under Amorim. Napoli and Chelsea were both linked with the England international, who played a huge role in the Three Lions' run to the Euro 2024 final.
He has 18 months remaining on his current United contract plus a further year option. While there is not too much time, Mainoo's contract was not initially held up as a priority when he was struggling for game time under Amorim.
When Mainoo started alongside Casemiro against Pep Guardiola's side, it was his first start for the Reds this season. He went on to play the full 90 minutes and enjoy a fantastic individual performance.
Kobbie Mainoo during a Manchester United game
Mainoo was one of the stand out players at Old Trafford for Man United against Man City(Image: 2026 Manchester United)
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Persuading him to commit his future to Old Trafford now looks like a priority, with Casemiro definitely leaving the club now. Manuel Ugarte has also been heavily linked with a move away from United this month.
If Ugarte also leaves, Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes will be the only natural, senior central midfielders at the club, and there is even a worry the latter may depart. United have been linked with various midfielders across the Premier League.
Carlos Baleba of Brighton & Hove Albion was pursued towards the end of the transfer window, while Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson have also been linked. All three players will command a huge price tag.
However, given Michael Carrick's previous comments on Mainoo, the interim United manager will want the midfielder to be at the centre of an all-new Reds lineup. In an interview with 'Rio Meets' in July, Carrick, when asked if United should build around Mainoo, said: "I think for a club to have a player that's come through the academy and knows the club and feels it, I think you have to.
Kobbie Mainoo and Ruben Amorim
Kobbie Mainoo did not appear to have a future under Ruben Amorim(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
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"United's got to have an element of that. Always has done, always should, always have. To have a talent like that he's shown already, you've got to have players like that.
"You can say they get it, they know it, let's help them, let's build them and stick with them and I think there's definitely a place for him there for sure."